Development of quartz glass as a certified reference material for thermal diffusivity measurements

Abstract

Thermal diffusivity is an important property that is essential for thermal designs and simulations. Reliable thermal diffusivity values are required to obtain more accurate thermal simulation results and improve thermal designs. In order to obtain reliable thermal diffusivity values, a well-validated thermal diffusivity measurement apparatus is necessary. The measurement apparatus is generally validated by certified reference materials. To validate the thermal diffusivity measurement apparatus in the thermal diffusivity measurement range of 1.0 × 10−7 m2 s−1 to 1.0 × 10−6 m2 s−1, a quartz glass reference material, which exhibited a low thermal diffusivity order was raised. A large batch of the quartz glass specimens was characterized for the certified thermal diffusivity values from room temperature (300 K) to 800 K. The large batch was also subjected to inhomogeneity and stability evaluations. The detailed characterisation ensured the traceability of the thermal diffusivity results to the International System of Units (SI). In addition, uncertainty was evaluated according to the Guide to the expression of uncertainty in measurement. The developed quartz glass certified reference material has been in supply as CRM5809-a since 2020.